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System for monitoring processing device utilization in a computer

a technology for monitoring and processing devices, applied in the direction of electric variable regulation, process and machine control, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of not returning a level of accuracy comparable with software methodology, and the addition of the cpu in order to measure activity levels

Active Publication Date: 2008-01-22
ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Software methods implemented in operating systems, or utilities used by operating systems to poll CPU utilization, are themselves applications and so have the disadvantage of additionally burdening the CPU in order to measure activity levels.
Hardware implementations often utilize transducers such as thermal diodes, thermistors, thermocouples etc., however, while such means place no additional burden on the CPU, they do not return a level of accuracy comparable with software methodology.

Method used

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  • System for monitoring processing device utilization in a computer
  • System for monitoring processing device utilization in a computer
  • System for monitoring processing device utilization in a computer

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Embodiment Construction

[0014]Power supplies dedicated to processing devices are necessarily very tightly controlled in terms of stability and noise. Nevertheless, as increasing demand on a processing device relates directly to its power consumption as discussed above, the voltage on the processing device supply rail will vary, even if only slightly, with increasing (or decreasing) current draw.

[0015]Taking by way of example, the Central Processor Unit (CPU) of a computer, the supply rail voltage is commonly termed ‘core voltage’ (Vcore), and similarly, the current flowing from the supply rail is termed ‘core current’ (Icore). In the art of computing device design, the abovementioned fact is widely known and Icore(power consumption), with respect to CPU utilization (i.e. instantaneous percentile loading) for a given rating of power supply, is often quoted by manufacturers in CPU specifications. But current sense is not easy and expensive. Hence, the sense Vcore voltage drop is replaced for sense Icore in o...

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PUM

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Abstract

A monitoring system capable of monitoring utilization of a processing device in a computer. The monitoring system includes a power supply voltage for supplying a core voltage to the processing device, and a comparator for comparing a voltage proportional to the core voltage to a reference voltage and producing a sense voltage. The resulting sense voltage is used to control a processing device management process, or alternatively may be used to control a variety of other processes including cooling fan operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The device and method of the present invention relates to monitoring of the utilization of a processing device in a computer, more particularly to the instant monitoring of the utilization of a processing device via a power supply without additionally burdening the processing device itself.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Many commonly available general computing devices, such as desktop PCs, notebook PCs etc., incorporate several processing devices. Broadly, these can be grouped as processing devices with specific tasks, such as video and input / output (IO) processors, and the Central Processing Unit (CPU), which undertakes general computing tasks. Management of, for example, the CPU, or even multiple processors where applicable, is an important task. Utilization, i.e. how hard the CPU or other processing device is working at any one time, is a key measurable that may be used to initiate, for example, load she...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G11C5/14
CPCG06F11/00G06F1/28
Inventor KE, JIA-MIN
Owner ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC